Yelich to the Brewers in exchange for Brinson, Isan Diaz, M. Harrison and Yamamoto

[Jopal78]

The utter failure of everyone in this trade for the Marlins is kind of incredible. Even Isan Diaz and Monte Harrison are getting pretty old. Both of those guys are going into their age 25 season. That is getting pretty old for guys that have been in pro ball their entire adult lives. It is a prove it year for all of those guys. If they can't be half competent this year they probably never will be.

 

I don't think that is a fair assessment. Harrison and Diaz were both 2nd round picks out of high school in the 2014 draft. If they contribute at all at the major leagues, I don't know how you can mark them as failures. To date there are only two other players from the 2nd round of the 2014 draft with positive career WARs (Alex Verdugo and Spencer Turnbull). Not to mention the first round is littered with busts: Tyler Kolek (#2 overall) Nick Gordon (#5 overall), Max Pentecost (#11) overall, and Milwaukee's own Kodi Medeiros (#12 overall).

 

I do think it's fair to say with the dust having settled on the Yelich trade, the Marlins got an underwhelming return for Yelich. Yet it is not at all surprising given Yelich was already established as one of the game's better young players when he demanded a trade.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

The utter failure of everyone in this trade for the Marlins is kind of incredible. Even Isan Diaz and Monte Harrison are getting pretty old. Both of those guys are going into their age 25 season. That is getting pretty old for guys that have been in pro ball their entire adult lives. It is a prove it year for all of those guys. If they can't be half competent this year they probably never will be.

 

Yep ... should probably serve as a warning to those pushing for the Brewers to trade Hader. They'd probably be lucky to get 1-2 prospects back the caliber of Diaz and Harrison, let alone a Top 25 MLB prospect like Brinson was at the time.

[Hopper]

The utter failure of everyone in this trade for the Marlins is kind of incredible. Even Isan Diaz and Monte Harrison are getting pretty old. Both of those guys are going into their age 25 season. That is getting pretty old for guys that have been in pro ball their entire adult lives. It is a prove it year for all of those guys. If they can't be half competent this year they probably never will be.

 

Yep ... should probably serve as a warning to those pushing for the Brewers to trade Hader. They'd probably be lucky to get 1-2 prospects back the caliber of Diaz and Harrison, let alone a Top 25 MLB prospect like Brinson was at the time.

 

I think success and failure can't be applied to all trades involving minor league guys.

It's a case by case basis.

I think now is the time to trade Hader, at the very least, at this year's trade deadline.

Again though, if we don't get what we are asking for, then hang onto him.

[jerichoholicninja]

Let's look at it this way. Say the trade never happens, forget about not having Yelich, we could be getting next to nothing production from guys who were supposed to be our top prospects and the future of the club. Would have been interesting to see how Huira/Diaz worked out with both being 2B. Maybe Keston gets moved to first sooner. Maybe Isan gets moved to 3B or the outfield.

[jerichoholicninja]

The utter failure of everyone in this trade for the Marlins is kind of incredible. Even Isan Diaz and Monte Harrison are getting pretty old. Both of those guys are going into their age 25 season. That is getting pretty old for guys that have been in pro ball their entire adult lives. It is a prove it year for all of those guys. If they can't be half competent this year they probably never will be.

 

Yep ... should probably serve as a warning to those pushing for the Brewers to trade Hader. They'd probably be lucky to get 1-2 prospects back the caliber of Diaz and Harrison, let alone a Top 25 MLB prospect like Brinson was at the time.

 

Ya, nothing's a sure thing but Hader has a lot more value now than when Yelich did at the time. Brinson was the only "top guy" we gave up. Diaz was well regarded and Monte and Yamamoto were essentially lotteries. I'd expect at least two "top guys" in return and certainly higher level prospects overall.

[MrTPlush]

I don't know that Monte Harrison was a lottery pick. He was coming off a huge breakout year before that trade happened. I would have to find a list that went beyond the Top 100, but that offseason I think he was a fringe Top 100 guy. Not only that, but he looked like a guy ready to fly up rankings after his 2017 season.

 

If I recall correctly I also think he dealt with injuries early on. His breakout year was the first time he had 500 PAs.

[Thurston Fluff]

Let's look at it this way. Say the trade never happens, forget about not having Yelich, we could be getting next to nothing production from guys who were supposed to be our top prospects and the future of the club. Would have been interesting to see how Huira/Diaz worked out with both being 2B. Maybe Keston gets moved to first sooner. Maybe Isan gets moved to 3B or the outfield.

 

I don't know if it's as easy as to see what they do there and think that was what they'd do here. Do players get pushed in their new team in a way that is detrimental to them? Was there something one team did that made them better at dealing with certain players? We've all seen players suddenly do well after a mover and vice versa. Obviously I'm not saying those guys would have been great, or even average here but it's not as simple as saying since they all busted there the same would have happened here.

[Fear The Chorizo]

The utter failure of everyone in this trade for the Marlins is kind of incredible. Even Isan Diaz and Monte Harrison are getting pretty old. Both of those guys are going into their age 25 season. That is getting pretty old for guys that have been in pro ball their entire adult lives. It is a prove it year for all of those guys. If they can't be half competent this year they probably never will be.

 

Yep ... should probably serve as a warning to those pushing for the Brewers to trade Hader. They'd probably be lucky to get 1-2 prospects back the caliber of Diaz and Harrison, let alone a Top 25 MLB prospect like Brinson was at the time.

 

Ya, nothing's a sure thing but Hader has a lot more value now than when Yelich did at the time. Brinson was the only "top guy" we gave up. Diaz was well regarded and Monte and Yamamoto were essentially lotteries. I'd expect at least two "top guys" in return and certainly higher level prospects overall.

 

I'm not sure about that - at the time Yelich had more years of team control under what was a bargain contract even for his production pre-MVP than what Hader has left now via arbitration. IMO an everyday all star caliber corner OF in his prime and locked into a very team-friendly extension for 4 (or was it 5) seasons carries more value than a lockdown late inning reliever with 3 years of arbitration-based team control.

 

Brinson headlined the trade return, for sure - but Harrison appeared to be a season behind Brinson in terms of being an everyday corner OF with pop at the major league level. Diaz was also a prospect with a solid-enough track record that he was far from a lottery ticket. Also, given the amount of minor league service time for both Harrison and Diaz at the time, I believe the Brewers needed to either trade them or add them to their 40 man roster before they were ready to avoid losing them via the rule V draft. It goes to show how hard it is to project what well-regarded prospects wind up being at the big league level.

[MrTPlush]

Or that we would have actually kept them if the Yelich deal didn't happen. Good chance we just ship them off somewhere else...at least 1 or 2 of the bunch. Brinson seems like he would have been traded regardless. If they really thought highly of Brinson why did they trade him in the first place? He was an MLB ready 23 year old that absolutely obliterated AAA pitching. He played CF and had pretty good defense. At face value his potential was way higher than Yelich, could have been paid $500k, and didn't require shipping off three more players with him to get a career .800 OPS corner outfielder.

 

They probably wouldn't admit it, but I am guessing the Brewers front office wasn't that high on Brinson if they shipped him off like that. Not saying they hated him and thought he was a future bust, but there is a reason they shipped him off with three other guys for what seemed like a fringe All Star at a less than premium position.

[PeaveyFury]

They probably wouldn't admit it, but I am guessing the Brewers front office wasn't that high on Brinson if they shipped him off like that. Not saying they hated him and thought he was a future bust, but there is a reason they shipped him off with three other guys for what seemed like a fringe All Star at a less than premium position.

 

The current FO has a really good track record of not really dumping anyone and having it come back to haunt them. Maybe Grisham will be the guy, but not much else. I think you're dead on in that they identified him as 'expendable' based on their evaluation of him.

[thebruce44]

The utter failure of everyone in this trade for the Marlins is kind of incredible. Even Isan Diaz and Monte Harrison are getting pretty old. Both of those guys are going into their age 25 season. That is getting pretty old for guys that have been in pro ball their entire adult lives. It is a prove it year for all of those guys. If they can't be half competent this year they probably never will be.

 

Yep ... should probably serve as a warning to those pushing for the Brewers to trade Hader. They'd probably be lucky to get 1-2 prospects back the caliber of Diaz and Harrison, let alone a Top 25 MLB prospect like Brinson was at the time.

 

Ironic considering all of the success these two franchises have had over the years trading proven talent for prospects. But I suppose that is all invalidated by this singular example.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

The utter failure of everyone in this trade for the Marlins is kind of incredible. Even Isan Diaz and Monte Harrison are getting pretty old. Both of those guys are going into their age 25 season. That is getting pretty old for guys that have been in pro ball their entire adult lives. It is a prove it year for all of those guys. If they can't be half competent this year they probably never will be.

 

Yep ... should probably serve as a warning to those pushing for the Brewers to trade Hader. They'd probably be lucky to get 1-2 prospects back the caliber of Diaz and Harrison, let alone a Top 25 MLB prospect like Brinson was at the time.

 

Ironic considering all of the success these two franchises have had over the years trading proven talent for prospects. But I suppose that is all invalidated by this singular example.

 

Not in the least. But that doesn't mean that caution shouldn't be exercised. Prospects who are highly ranked by outside ranking services are not always the end-all, be-all. Brinson, Diaz and Harrison were all certainly "shiny object"-type prospects.

 

It's more of a statement on tempering expectations on any sort of return on Hader more than anything.

[adambr2]

Hader definitely does not have more trade value than what Yelich did when we traded for him. If he did he wouldn't be a Brewer.

[Warning Track Power]

Hader definitely does not have more trade value than what Yelich did when we traded for him. If he did he wouldn't be a Brewer.

Precisely. If the Brewers were offered the current day equivalent of Brinson, Harrison, Diaz and Yamamoto for Hader, Hader would be on the next flight out of Milwaukee. For fun, what would the equivalent of that actually be from SD? Have to be something like Luis Campusano, Robert Hassell, Ryan Weathers, and a lottery ticket?

[adambr2]

Hader definitely does not have more trade value than what Yelich did when we traded for him. If he did he wouldn't be a Brewer.

Precisely. If the Brewers were offered the current day equivalent of Brinson, Harrison, Diaz and Yamamoto for Hader, Hader would be on the next flight out of Milwaukee. For fun, what would the equivalent of that actually be from SD? Have to be something like Luis Campusano, Robert Hassell, Ryan Weathers, and a lottery ticket?

 

That's probably close. Campusano would be roughly equivalent to Brinson. Hassell is pretty much what Monte Harrison was worth.

[brewcrewdue80]

Hader definitely does not have more trade value than what Yelich did when we traded for him. If he did he wouldn't be a Brewer.

Precisely. If the Brewers were offered the current day equivalent of Brinson, Harrison, Diaz and Yamamoto for Hader, Hader would be on the next flight out of Milwaukee. For fun, what would the equivalent of that actually be from SD? Have to be something like Luis Campusano, Robert Hassell, Ryan Weathers, and a lottery ticket?

 

On paper that is better than what Milw gave up. Only Brinson was a top 100 prospect. Diaz had touched top 100 briefly but not at time of that trade. Harrison has almost always been that 125-160 prospect while in Milw. Yamamoto was the throw in.

 

CJ Abrams is likely Brinson. And then you start plucking names once youre below Weathers.

Esteury Ruiz fits Diaz.

Jorge Ona as a slight below Harrison.

We'll say Efrain Contreras as Yamamoto had he had 2020 to pitch in minors.

[MrTPlush]

Isan Diaz was a Top 100 prospect at the time of that trade by at least one outlet (MLB.com) I believe. Baseball America had Monte Harrison in the 70s pre-2018. A lot of those lists get updated in February so at the time of the trade they weren't overly accurate at the time of the trade.

 

They got three really solid prospects and an intriguing pitcher.

[brewcrewdue80]

Ok looks like Diaz was #86 at time of trade. I remember he had 1 year in it then completely bottomed out the next. Thought that had happened already time of trade but was after it.

Harrison may have been in 70s but not MLB's. I'll stick with the consensus 120s-160s.

I think the list I gave fits comparable. Tucupita Marcano is mid inf that ranks higher than Ruiz but he's nowhere near the HR power that Diaz brought while Ruiz is closer.

[Warning Track Power]

Based on Baseball Reference:

 

Pre-2017:

Diaz: Baseball America #93, MLB.com #65, Baseball Prospectus #59

Harrison: Not ranked

Brinson: BA #27, MLB.com #18, Baseball Prospectus #12

 

Pre-2018:

Diaz: Not ranked

Harrison: BA #75, MLB.com #71, Baseball Prospectus #49

Brinson: BA #18, MLB.com #27, Baseball Prosepctus #18

 

I think you can say legit three Top 100 prospects and a interesting pitching prospect for Yelich. Marlins had to feel good about the return at the time. Can’t fault it at all.

[clancyphile]

I don't know that Monte Harrison was a lottery pick. He was coming off a huge breakout year before that trade happened. I would have to find a list that went beyond the Top 100, but that offseason I think he was a fringe Top 100 guy. Not only that, but he looked like a guy ready to fly up rankings after his 2017 season.

 

If I recall correctly I also think he dealt with injuries early on. His breakout year was the first time he had 500 PAs.

 

I recall Harrison having a lot of injury/production issues.

 

I was not upset to see him and Brinson go. I was far more worried about Yamamoto and Diaz. The latter I saw as a possible option at shortstop as opposed to second base, especially with Hiura on the way.

[clancyphile]

I don't know that Monte Harrison was a lottery pick. He was coming off a huge breakout year before that trade happened. I would have to find a list that went beyond the Top 100, but that offseason I think he was a fringe Top 100 guy. Not only that, but he looked like a guy ready to fly up rankings after his 2017 season.

 

If I recall correctly I also think he dealt with injuries early on. His breakout year was the first time he had 500 PAs.

 

I recall Harrison having a lot of injury/production issues.

 

I was not upset to see him and Brinson go. I was far more worried about Yamamoto and Diaz. The latter I saw as a possible option at shortstop as opposed to second base, especially with Hiura on the way.

[sveumrules]

I don't know that Monte Harrison was a lottery pick. He was coming off a huge breakout year before that trade happened. I would have to find a list that went beyond the Top 100, but that offseason I think he was a fringe Top 100 guy. Not only that, but he looked like a guy ready to fly up rankings after his 2017 season.

 

If I recall correctly I also think he dealt with injuries early on. His breakout year was the first time he had 500 PAs.

 

I recall Harrison having a lot of injury/production issues.

 

I was not upset to see him and Brinson go. I was far more worried about Yamamoto and Diaz. The latter I saw as a possible option at shortstop as opposed to second base, especially with Hiura on the way.

 

Too bad we missed out on that Braun at 3rd, Isan at SS, Hiura at 2B defensive alignment, it definitely would have been something to behold.

[sveumrules]

I don't know that Monte Harrison was a lottery pick. He was coming off a huge breakout year before that trade happened. I would have to find a list that went beyond the Top 100, but that offseason I think he was a fringe Top 100 guy. Not only that, but he looked like a guy ready to fly up rankings after his 2017 season.

 

If I recall correctly I also think he dealt with injuries early on. His breakout year was the first time he had 500 PAs.

 

I recall Harrison having a lot of injury/production issues.

 

I was not upset to see him and Brinson go. I was far more worried about Yamamoto and Diaz. The latter I saw as a possible option at shortstop as opposed to second base, especially with Hiura on the way.

 

Too bad we missed out on that Braun at 3rd, Isan at SS, Hiura at 2B defensive alignment, it definitely would have been something to behold.

[SoCalBrewfan]

Harrison was a guy with tools and so his breakout came as he put the ball in play enough that it looked like he was putting it all together. All three of the position players in our end of the trade were legit top 100 prospects at one time or another, but arguably not all at the same time. There was a good reason this trade stung brewers prospect lovers at the time...that was a lot of perceived value.

 

That said, they all had that Brewers prospect profile that we see now and again where the other tools are there but making contact seems to come and go. See also Corey Ray. If it all comes together and there's enough contact, those other tools means you can have a heckuva player on your hands, even with 150+ strikeouts. But it's pretty hard to put up 215 Ks like Harrison did in AA and still have plus offensive value. Not impossible, mind you, just really hard.

 

In that sense you could argue that the risk / reward profile for the marlins was extreme. All three of those hitters had the possibility to be really good players, but also the significant possibility of struggling to reach the uecker line. Did Stearns secretly sigh relief getting value for three such risky players? Or was he sure that he was giving up a future all star? I suppose we'll never know.

[SoCalBrewfan]

Harrison was a guy with tools and so his breakout came as he put the ball in play enough that it looked like he was putting it all together. All three of the position players in our end of the trade were legit top 100 prospects at one time or another, but arguably not all at the same time. There was a good reason this trade stung brewers prospect lovers at the time...that was a lot of perceived value.

 

That said, they all had that Brewers prospect profile that we see now and again where the other tools are there but making contact seems to come and go. See also Corey Ray. If it all comes together and there's enough contact, those other tools means you can have a heckuva player on your hands, even with 150+ strikeouts. But it's pretty hard to put up 215 Ks like Harrison did in AA and still have plus offensive value. Not impossible, mind you, just really hard.

 

In that sense you could argue that the risk / reward profile for the marlins was extreme. All three of those hitters had the possibility to be really good players, but also the significant possibility of struggling to reach the uecker line. Did Stearns secretly sigh relief getting value for three such risky players? Or was he sure that he was giving up a future all star? I suppose we'll never know.